7 Best HIPAA Compliant Chat Apps

Introduction

Today, 62% of people prefer remote consultation with doctors whenever possible, so implementing one of the best HIPAA-compliant chat apps may be a great move for your healthcare facility.

Since online communication & exchange of information come with risks, the government has laid out the HIPAA Act, which contains guidelines that healthcare professionals need to follow when offering online communication services to patients to keep their data safe. This is why you must only look for chat apps that are HIPAA-compliant.

So keep reading, as we compare the seven best hipaa compliant text messaging apps for you:   

7 Best HIPAA Compliant Chat Apps: Quick Glance

1. Emitrr
2. Luma Health
3. Trillian
4. OhMD
5. Klara
6. Spok
7. TigerConnect

Why Should You Use a HIPAA Compliant Chat App?

HIPAA-compliant chat apps come with a variety of benefits for both patients and medical staff. Here are some reasons why you should use a HIPAA chat app: 

For Patients: 

Convenient 

Visiting a doctor offline is not always the most convenient thing for the patient, especially for every little question they may have. By implementing a HIPAA-compliant chat app your patient can reach out to you conveniently from their office, home, or on the go. 

Quick real time diagnosis 

While email may be good for billing issues, chat is ideal for quick and time-sensitive diagnosis. Via the HIPAA chat app, patients can share images, voice, video, etc, and describe their issues to get prescriptions and diagnoses easily. If the issue is more serious, then the doctor can always advise for an offline visit.

Less treatment errors 

A common mistake in clinics and hospitals is errors in communication regarding medications. Using a hipaa compliant instant messenger, medical personnel can coordinate effectively. Additionally, offering e-prescriptions via a medical chat app can also help in reducing paperwork. 

For Clinic Staff: 

Boosts staff productivity

Simpler or non-urgent cases through live chat can free up resources greatly and allow your medical personnel to cater to more patients and allow them to focus on patients with complex treatments and needs. 

Improves patient satisfaction

Most patients today prefer the option to chat with their healthcare providers for non-urgent medical needs, prescription and other similar things.Thus, by giving patients what they need, you can improve patient satisfaction and improve patient retention rate. 

Facilitate team collaboration  

Many HIPAA-compliant instant messaging options offer internal texting features that allow your medical team to better communicate with each other, improving team collaboration. 

What Makes Chat Apps HIPAA Compliant? 

HIPAA-compliant chat apps are similar to consumer apps such as Skype, WhatsApp, etc., However, doctors cannot use these apps because they do not come with features that can protect patient’s ePHI data. Here’s what makes chat apps HIPAA-compliant and suitable for doctors: 

End-to-end encryption

As per HIPAA guidelines, all Protected Health Information (PHI) should be encrypted at rest. So HIPAA-compliant messaging apps encrypt all the information that is being exchanged in transit. This restricts access to PHI and keeps your patient’s information safe.  

Secure PHI usage

HIPAA-compliant texting apps prevent copying or displaying of PHI in screen notifications, which ensures that PHI is used in a secure manner and your patient’s sensitive information is kept safe. 

User authentication

When communicating and exchanging sensitive information on chat, you need to ensure the person sitting on the other side is actually your patient. This is why HIPAA-compliant chat apps come with multiple-factor authentication and other authentication features. 

Secure file sharing

Just like PHI, the exchange of images should also be done securely. HIPAA chat apps allow  images not to be shown in notifications and gives you the option to disable auto saving in your phone. 

Data storage location 

Another feature that differentiates normal chat apps to HIPAA compliant hipaa compliant chat software is the data storage location. As per HIPAA, all patient data must be stored in the U.S.  

Access restrictions 

HIPAA compliant chat software or apps offer many restrictions to protect PHI, such as IP restrictions, 2FA, SSL certificates, etc. 

Reliable uptime

HIPAA chat apps should offer reliable uptime so that the patients can easily access their ePHI (electronic protected health information)

7 Best HIPAA Compliant Chat Apps: Detailed Comparison

Let’s have a look at the detailed comparison between seven best HIPAA compliant chat apps:

Emitrr 

Emitrr is our top pick for HIPAA-compliant chat apps. This chat app complies with HIPAA and HITECH guidelines, ensuring that patient data remains secure and can only be accessed by authorized personnel. Emitrr maintains end-to-end data encryption and all the safeguards necessary to ensure that patient’s PHI and ePHI are private and safe. And the best highlight of this software is its secure medical texting feature. When this feature is enabled for a particular conversation, the patient and the user are directed to a secure gateway where they can communicate safely. This feature offers high security for the exchange and access of PHI, while also ensuring smooth communication.

Emitrr Features

• HIPAA-Compliant
• Secure texting
• Interoperability to exchange data more efficiently
• Real-time alerts and alarms
• EHR/EMR integration
• TCPA SMS compliance
• End-to-end encryption
• Remote data deletion
• Activity tracking of the user/manager
• User control to manage the degree to which users can access information in the app
• Access management for multiple locations
• 2FA
• Message lifespan to automatically delete messages after a certain time period
• Mass and group texting
• 2-way texting
• And more..

Emitrr Pros

• Comprehensive security features
• Excellent customer service
• Affordable
• Plenty of texting features
• User-friendly interface
• Seamless integration with 500+ tools

Emitrr Cons

• There are no major issues in this software

Emitrr Pricing

Emitrr is one of the most affordable HIPAA-compliant chat apps, with pricing starting at just $149 a month, depending on the features and plans you choose. 

Emitrr Customer Support 

• Capterra: 5/5
• G2: 4.7/5

Luma Health

This is another good HIPAA-compliant text messaging service that caters to different kinds of healthcare industries, including specialty clinics, primary and urgent care clinics, clinical laboratories, hospitals, pharmacies, and more. Here are additional details on Luma Health. 

Luma Health Features 

• Secure patient-provider chat
• HIPAA-compliant
• 70+ EHR/PMS Integration
• Mass texts
• Two-way texting
• Access Control
• Interoperability
• Real-time alerts and alarms
• And more..

Luma Health Pros

• Seamless integration with EHR/PMS tools
• Good customer support

Luma Health Cons

• Technical issues in the software
• Syncing delays
• No messaging templates

Luma Health Pricing

Luma Health’s pricing starts at $250 a month. 

Luma Health Customer Support 

• Capterra: 4.7/5
• G2: 4.8/5

Trillian

Trillians is another good option to consider, as it offers HIPAA-compliant messaging for clinical settings. Using Trillian, doctors, receptionists, nurses, and other staff members can securely communicate via group or direct messaging. The platform offers plenty of texting and file-sharing features, such as encryption in transit, blast messages, and more. Here’s more information on Trillian: 

Trillian Features

• Multi-user management
• Encryption in transit
• Two-factor authentication
• HIPAA and BAA
• Custom chat retention period
• Compliance export
• Web app
• Blast messages
• And more.

Trillian Pros

• Can be used on multiple devices
• Comprehensive safety features
• Private chat option
• Free version available

Trillian Cons

• PC chat window is confusing
• Pricing may get expensive as you add more users

Trillian Pricing 

Trillian offers four different pricing options:

• Individual free: $0
• Individual pro: $3.33 per use/month
• Business: $3.99 per use/month
• Enterprise: $7.99 per use/month

Trillian Customer Support 

• Capterra: 4.8/5
• G2:  4.4/5

OhMD

OhMD is a healthcare messaging platform that comes with a number of useful features such as website live chat, video visits, forms and surveys, and more. You can use OhMD to add a live chat widget to your website and communicate with potential patients easily. OhMD offers a free plan; however, it comes with a lot of cons and misses essential features such as a chat transfer option, reporting & analytics, etc. Here are some more details on OhMD: 

OhMD Features

• Live website chat
• 85+ EHR Integrations
• Custom BAA
• Video visits
• File sharing
• HIPAA-compliant texting
• And more..

OhMD Pros

• Offers a free plan
• Easy to implement
• Good customer service

OhMD Cons

• Does not offer one-on-one private chat option with patients
• Does not offer reporting & analytics feature
• Software times out in the middle of typing
• Option to assign conversation is missing

OhMD Pricing

OhMD offers two kinds of plans:

• Basic: Free
• Reach: Starts at $200 a month

OhMD Customer Support 

• Capterra: 5/5
• G2: 4.8/5

Klara 

Klara is a popular patient communication app that allows medical practices to communicate with patients via web chat, text messaging, or call. The platform offers encryption, a secure texting feature, and 2FA to keep sensitive information safe. However, the biggest disadvantage of Klara is that it is not TCPA compliant and does not integrate with many EHR/PMS tools easily. 

Klara Features

• Web chat
• Two-way texting
• HIPAA-compliant
• Message lifespan
• Encryption
• Transcribe voicemails
• And more..

Klara Pros

• Easy to use
• Can be used via desktop or app

Klara Cons

• No TCPA compliance
• Lacks transparency in pricing
• Integrates with limited EHR tools

Klara Pricing

Details on pricing not available, you will need to contact Klara for pricing. 

Klara Customer Support

1. Capterra: 4.1/5
2. G2: 4.5/5

Spok 

Spok is a HIPAA-compliant chat software that is especially suited to streamline clinical communication. The best feature of Spok is that it allows HIPAA-compliant texting across personal devices via its bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy. However, the software lacks many basic texting features which are essential for patient communication. 

Spok Features

• Code alerts
• Secure messaging
• User access control
• Secure image and file sharing
• HIPAA-compliant messaging app
• And more..

Spok Pros

• Customizable apps
• Easy to use

Spok Cons

• Lacks plenty of texting features
• Occasional technical glitches
• Pricing is not transparent

Spok Pricing

Details on pricing not available, you will need to contact Spok for pricing. 

Spok Customer Support 

• G2: 3.8/5

TigerConnect

TigerConnect is a popular HIPAA-compliant patient communication and scheduling app that comes with secure texting features. This tool also allows internal text-based messaging among different groups and internal teams. However, the sluggishness and technical glitches in the app are the worst part of using TigerConnect. 

TigerConnect Features 

• Secure file sharing
• Message lifespan
• Message delivery and read confirmations
• HIPAA compliance
• EHR integration
• Mass texting
• External messaging
• And more..

TigerConnect Pros

• Protects patient data
• Good secure texting features

TigerConnect Cons

• Slow and laggy software
• Platform logs out users abruptly
• Timeout parameter can be frustrating
• Lacks TCPA compliance

TigerConnect Pricing

Details on pricing are not available, you will need to contact TigerConnect for pricing. 

TigerConnect Customer Support

• Capterra: 4.5/5
• G2: 4.5/5

Why Emitrr is the Best HIPAA Compliant Chat App?

After comparing seven best hipaa compliant messaging app, here why we think Emitrr is the best pick:

Connect with patients in real-time via live chat

Emitrr allows you to add a live chat widget on your website that responds to customer queries via SMS. This means you carry on a conversation with a potential customer easily via SMS and never worry about patients walking away from the web. 

A shared inbox for communications management 

In a patient’s treatment, sometimes several doctors or nurses may be involved, and as such, maintaining communication transparency with them becomes essential. Emitrr allows you to track and manage all your patient communication in one place and lets you manage user control so that access to patient information is limited.  

Emitrr maintains HIPAA compliance 

• Data security: Emitrr’s web application communications are encrypted with 256-bit SSL (secure sockets layer).
• Secure chat: Emitrr offers a cool secure chat feature, which, when enabled, takes the user and the patient to a secure gateway wherein they can exchange important information.

This is how Emitrr’s secure texting function works:

• Reliable uptime: Emitrr aims to offer reliable 99.98% uptime so that patients can easily access their data. 
• Business associate agreements (BAA): Emitrr will sign a BAA with your organization.
• Other security measures: Emitrr offers all 14 security features, making it the only texting app adhering to all HIPAA guidelines. Emitrr is compliant with HITECH and HIPAA and also takes TCPA guidelines very seriously.

HIPAA compliant patient texting at an affordable price

If price is a pain point for you, then with Emitrr, you don’t have to worry about this aspect. Emitrr offers affordable per-message texting plans that you can upgrade or downgrade as per the needs of your business easily. 

Automated reminders & follow-ups 

As a healthcare provider, sending reminders and follow-ups to patients is very important to reduce no-show rates and to increase patient retention. Thankfully, using Emitrr, you can send one or more automated reminders & follow-ups to your patients with an easy reply option that allows them to reschedule or confirm the appointment. 

Online scheduling feature 

Emitrr allows patients to view providers for different treatments and book their own appointments online and relieve the scheduling burden of your staff. For this, scheduling can be done through the website or by sending a link to the patient. 

Team collaboration & management features 

Emitrr’s team collaboration and team management features may be quite handy for you. Emitrr’s team collaboration feature includes options like team chats, team groups, mentions, etc., using which you can communicate with your entire team at once. Using its team management features, you can assign conversations to a specific team or team member and assign access to very specific conversations to only selected members. For example, you may set up owner, manager, or member-level access for certain conversations if needed.   

Excellent customer service 

Lastly, Emitrr is rated 5/5 by customers on Capterra for its exceptional customer support and service. It offers 24/7 customer support via different channels such as chat, email, call, etc., to ensure you are never stuck with anything. 

FAQs

Conclusion

HIPAA compliance is an important factor to consider when looking for a chat app for healthcare. Before making a choice, carefully consider the apps shared in this guide to understand if they align with your requirements. If you liked Emitrr’s offerings then schedule a demo with us today!